Warranty Comparison

There are almost 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape’s warranty.

Reliability Comparison

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escape second among compact SUVs in their 2017 Initial Quality Study. The CR-V isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2017 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 20th, below the industry average.

Engine Comparison

The Escape has more powerful engines than the CR-V:

Horsepower

Torque

Escape Titanium 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.

245 HP

275 lbs.-ft.

CR-V LX 2.4 DOHC 4 cyl.

184 HP

180 lbs.-ft.

CR-V EX/EX-L/Touring 1.5 turbo 4 cyl.

190 HP

179 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Escape 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the CR-V 1.5 turbo 4 cyl.:

Escape

CR-V

Zero to 60 MPH

6.8 sec

7.5 sec

Quarter Mile

15.2 sec

15.8 sec

Fuel Economy and Range Comparison

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Escape EcoBoost’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The CR-V doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Escape has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the CR-V (15.7 vs. 14 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping Comparison

For better stopping power the Escape’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CR-V:

Escape

Escape EcoBoost

CR-V

Front Rotors

11.8 inches

12.6 inches

11.1 inches

Rear Rotors

11 inches

11 inches

10.2 inches

The Escape stops shorter than the CR-V:

Escape

CR-V

60 to 0 MPH

132 feet

137 feet

Consumer Reports

60 to 0 MPH (Wet)

139 feet

146 feet

Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels Comparison

The Escape’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CR-V LX’s standard 65 series tires. The Escape’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the CR-V EX/EX-L/Touring’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape offers optional 19-inch wheels. The CR-V’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling Comparison

The Escape has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CR-V’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Escape’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The CR-V doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escape’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the CR-V (105.9 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

The Escape Titanium AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the CR-V Touring AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Ergonomics Comparison

The Escape (except S)’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CR-V doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Escape and the CR-V have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Escape is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CR-V prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Escape SE/SEL/Titanium’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The CR-V EX/EX-L/Touring’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape SE/SEL/Titanium’s exterior keypad. The CR-V doesn’t offer an exterior keypad entry system.

The Escape’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The CR-V LX’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

The Escape has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The CR-V has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the EX/EX-L/Touring.

The Escape Titanium has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The CR-V doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Escape Titanium’s Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The CR-V doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages Comparison

Insurance will cost less for the Escape owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Escape with a number “5” insurance rate while the CR-V is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Escape is less expensive to operate than the CR-V because typical repairs cost much less on the Escape than the CR-V, including $5 less for a water pump, $88 less for an alternator, $369 less for a starter, $72 less for fuel injection and $234 less for front struts.

Recommendations Comparison

The Ford Escape has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

Purchase prices plus tax, tag, title, and Georgia lemon law fee. Prices include the listed rebates and incentives. Please verify all information. We are not responsible for typographical, technical, or misprint errors. Inventory is subject to prior sale. Contact us via phone or email for more details.

Purchase prices plus tax, tag, title, and Georgia lemon law fee. Prices include the listed rebates and incentives. Please verify all information. We are not responsible for typographical, technical, or misprint errors. Inventory is subject to prior sale. Contact us via phone or email for more details.